LOS ANGELES, October 26, 2015—A watercolor and ink drawing of Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet, by illustrator E.H. Shepard, will be auctioned by Nate D. Sanders Auctions on October 29. Interested bidders may participate in the auction online.

A.A. Milne, the author of the children’s literary classic series “Winnie-the-Pooh,” selected E.H. Shepard to illustrate his books beginning in 1926. The illustration appears on a 1932 letter to Shepard’s agent Carter Brown. In the letter, Shepard told his agent he has “done splendidly” and “this view is shared by others.” To make his point more emphatic and further express his gratitude, Shepard sketched Winnie-the-Pooh reaching up and Piglet excitedly jumping at his side. It was extremely rare for Shepard to sketch Winnie-the-Pooh other than for specific book illustrations.

Shepard was born in London in 1879. After the turn of the century, Shepard developed a reputation for illustrating classic books such as “David Copperfield” and “Aesop’s Fables.” During World War I, he drew cartoons for the British weekly satirical magazine “Punch.” He contributed to “Punch” until 1945. Shepard achieved his greatest fame illustrating contemporary children’s literature. After Shepard had become a household name for his “Winnie-the-Pooh” drawings, he drew characters for Kenneth Grahame’s “The Wind in the Willows” in 1931. In 1969, the Victoria and Albert in London held a retrospective featuring over 300 of his drawings. Shepard passed away in 1976.

An industry leader in documents and autographs, Nate D. Sanders Auctions has conducted auctions in Los Angeles since 1990 and now holds major auctions on a monthly basis. Owner Nate Sanders is recognized for his knowledge of sports, historical and Hollywood memorabilia. To learn more visit natedsanders.com.